Welding GAS, refils

[Dont like rolls]

Hi chaps.

I have (thanks to a midnight skip by a tenant) come into a nice MIG (snap-on) MIG welder and a --Rented-- but empty gas bottle.
From what I understand this is a number of people down the ownership road and the original renters are a long way away from me down south.

Is it possible to get a bottle refiled even if it used to be a rental bottle ?

[paintman]

Any markings on the bottle to show which supplier - as in BOC etc?

[Dont like rolls]

It is one of the small "rent a bottle, pay for refill) type supplier, not BOC

(in storage, will check later)

[paintman]

Might be better looking for a supplier near to you & starting your own account - not necessarily BOC, you could look at one of the rent-a-cylinder setups such as Hobbyweld.
I'd suggest looking at Argoshield or equivalent, much nicer than CO2.

[Dont like rolls]

You cannot just turn up and get a bottle refilled then ? I do not really do much welding so an account seems overkill.

[sparkythecat]

There may be a local distributor for SGS gasses close to you. I paid £65 cylinder deposit and it costs about £35 to get it refilled. There's no ongoing rental charge and if you decide to give up welding, you hand back the cylinder and get your deposit refunded.
A variety of MIG gasses are available

https://www.sgsgases.co.uk/product-category/mig-an...

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

For the small amount of occasional welding I do at home I use a CO2 fire extinguisher for the gas.

[finlo]

My local publican used to sort me out gratis!

[Dont like rolls]

Can I connect a large bottle (a friend does a lot) direct to my small one and get it to transfer, then pay my mate for some gas when he refills ?

[sunbeam alpine]

Normally you just swap bottles. Our supplier isn't worried about the name on the bottle, they do however check the date code - they won't swap really old bottles.

[Matt_E_Mulsion]

Dont like rolls said:

Can I connect a large bottle (a friend does a lot) direct to my small one and get it to transfer, then pay my mate for some gas when he refills ?

Technically probably yes, is it wise and safe to attempt it - probably not.

[CAPP0]

SC Motor Factors apparently do an Argon/CO2 bottle, you pay a one off charge for the bottle the just the cost to exchange it. I believe its about £110 to get started then £50-ish per refill. I don't know how much in volume the bottle holds but they're the ones which are about 3ft high.

SC have lots of outlets but I'm sure other motor factors must do similar.

[Dont like rolls]

Yeh, £110, I really do not need to splash that on something I might do twice a year and then only a bracket for a garden bench or such....I don't weld cars etc.

It sounds like I might as well just sell the kit for all the hassle it will be (delivery charges. rental bottle costs or purchase bottle and travel for refills etc)

Edited by Dont like rolls on Friday 31st January 21:32

[CAPP0]

Well your alternative is the £15 bottles from Halfords, MachineMart etc. I was trying to be helpful - I thought you were looking for a proper solution.

[Dont like rolls]

CAPP0 said:

Well your alternative is the £15 bottles from Halfords, MachineMart etc. I was trying to be helpful - I thought you were looking for a proper solution.

Oh....you WERE helpful...I now know more than I did (which was bugger all) so I can make my choice....thank you for the time.

Out of interest, how long does a bottle from Screw Fix last...

[finlo]

Dont like rolls said:

Oh....you WERE helpful...I now know more than I did (which was bugger all) so I can make my choice....thank you for the time.

Out of interest, how long does a bottle from Screw Fix last...

Those dinky bottles last minutes and always run out at the worst possible time!

[Dont like rolls]

finlo said:

Those dinky bottles last minutes and always run out at the worst possible time!

Yeh, thought so

Watch ebay for a MIG (Snap-on) for sale soon....with an empty bottle

[milkround]

Dont like rolls said:

Yeh, thought so

Watch ebay for a MIG (Snap-on) for sale soon....with an empty bottle

Perhaps post about it on here and someone might make you an offer without the the ebay costs involved?

I'd be interested for sure.

[Scrump]

milkround said:

Perhaps post about it on here and someone might make you an offer without the the ebay costs involved?

I'd be interested for sure.

[Dont like rolls]

Scrump said:

Hence I have not